Sunday Stakes Plays for Kentucky Downs, August 30

A pair of lucrative and competitive stakes races on the grass will highlight the second day of the highly entertaining Kentucky Downs meeting on Sunday. 

Race 9 – Tapit S. 

The boys will kick off the black-type action when going 1 1/16 miles over this unique lawn in a $500,000 event that attracted a full field. Two contenders in the group interest me the most from a value standpoint. The Jonathan Thomas-trained #7 Hiding in Honduras (12-1) is a Grade 2 winner who is something of a grinder, which leads me to believe that he will prosper on this course in his local debut. He possesses the tactical speed to be in range throughout the tilt with Jaime Torres in the irons. 

#14 Plensa (10-1) made an eye-popping late move to eclipse the $2 million Gun Runner S. at this venue last season and will make his first run back on the surface on this occasion. The Rusty Arnold pupil drew widest of all and might be using the race as something of a prep for a contest later in the meeting, but I feel that he will be live in here, nonetheless, with Axel Concepcion up. 

Race 10 – Untapable S. 

An overflow field of 13 juveniles fillies will jaunt 6 1/2 panels on the weeds in the second stakes run of the afternoon. #4 Severely Overpayin (8-1) was excellent in his debut win at Gulfstream Park and rates a nice chance with even minor improvement second time out. The Jose D’Angelo pupil is kin to a stakes winner from one sibling that has raced, and the daughter of Highly Motivated shows a trio of solid morning moves in preparation for the $750,000 dash, too. Flavien Prat taking the reins adds to her appeal. 

#1 Just Peachy (5-1) is still a maiden, but the Brisset pupil has checked in second in both runs to date and will cut back in distance from the rail in her first local attempt. The $280,000 daughter of hot young sire Golden Pal is a half-sister to multiple graded heroine Buchu, who captured the 2023 Jessamine (G2) as a two-year-old, and the February foal merits a lot of respect with Christian Torres in the silks.